Although staked to the early lead, USD sophomore right-hander Kyle Blair had troubles of his own in the first inning, hitting three batters. The Wildcats scored one run in the inning to make it 3-1, but Blair avoided further damage by striking out Alejandro Sanchez to end the inning with the bases loaded.

Blair sailed through the next two innings, retiring the side in order in both the second and the third.

The 60-member Bethune Cookman marching band sat in the stands adjacent to the USD dugout along the third base line and entertained fans between innings. Band members also playfully chided the Toreros, including chanting "left, right, left, right, left, right" whenever shortstop Sean Nicol jogged back to the dugout after at-bats.

Muno led off the fourth inning with a home run to right-center field on an 0-2 pitch from Thomas. Two batters later, Sanchez launched a deep home run to left field that made it 7-1. Band members didn't have much to say about that.

Bethune Cookman got back in the game in the bottom of the fourth when an error by Valerio at first base and back-to-back walks loaded the bases with no outs to fuel a five-run rally that made it 7-6.

Blair, who allowed four hits, six runs (five earned) and struck out five, gave way to Matt Thomson in the sixth inning.

Thomson restored order, pitching four scoreless innings for the save. Thomson allowed just one hit and struck out six.

USD got some breathing room in the eighth inning when Meador greeted reliever Justin Dahl with a two-out triple that scored Green and Muno to make it 9-6.

Muno led the Toreros with three hits. Austin Green and Sanchez had two RBI apiece.

USD plays host to San Diego State on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Cunningham Stadium.